James mcgeary



JAMES .M'GGEAR'Y, OF SALEW, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 76,338, dated April 7, 1868.

IMPROVED rnoosss FOR MAKING ens.-

tin gtllthltlt trench is in tlgrst Ztettcts @nttnt aubmzikiug u at the same.

To ALL WHOM IT'MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JAMES MGGEARY, of-Salcm, in the county of Essex. and in the State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Process for Making Gas; and I do hereby declare that, the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

The nature of my inventionconsists in using partially-spent coal in aretort, as a means of dilutinga fresh charg'e of coal, or'its heavier gascs, during the process of'destructive distillation.

It also consistsdn-theuse of partially-spent coal for decomposing superheated steam. By these processes a large amount of the tar and the condensed carbon, which in the ordinary process adheres to the retort, is converted into elastic gas.

This result is accomplished by connecting retorts, or chambers in retorts, together in such a manner, by means of pipes or tubes, as to permit gas to pass from one to another alternately.

Thus I am enabled to use the heat, already raised to a high degree in the retort containing the partiallyspent coal, to quicken and intensify the heat in the retort charged with fresh coal. When the coal in the former hasbccome partially consumed, say one-half, more or less, I close the outlet in the stand-pipe of said retort, and then admit superheated steam, which forces-the dilute gas into the freshly-charged retort, thereby aiding distillation, as herein stated.

I do not intend to confine myself to the use of superheated steam in combination with partially-spent coal, but' -may use either, without the other, as circumstances may require.-

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The use of partially-spent coal, in one re tort, to quicken and intensify the heat in another retort or chamber, alternately, as set forth.

i 2. The use of partially-spent coal for'decomposing superheated steam, substantially as set forth.

3. The use of superheated steam, produced as described, as and for the purpose set forth,

' JAMES McGEARY.

Witnesses D. E. SoMss, E. L. NonFoLK. 

